Distinct B cell profiles characterise healthy weight and obesity pre- and post-bariatric surgery

Obesity-associated metabolic dysfunction and inflammation can be ameliorated by bariatric surgery. While obesity is also linked to impaired B cell activation, differentiation, and persistence in response to infection and vaccination little is known about post-operative immune B cell compartment and to what extent dysregulation in B cell pathways can be reversed. To bridge this gap in knowledge, we carried out in-depth evaluation of B cell composition in individuals with obesity prior to and following bariatric surgery compared to lean controls.

We recruited individuals with obesity (BMI at least 35 kg/m²) before bariatric surgery (n = 21) and followed them up 6 months post-operatively (n = 17). As controls we recruited age- and sex-matched lean (BMI < 25) individuals (n = 18). We carried out comprehensive immunophenotyping of peripheral blood B cells as well as interrogated their association with inflammatory and metabolic parameters.

In obesity the balance of antigen-inexperienced and memory B cells in the peripheral blood is altered, with an expansion of naïve and a reduction in total memory B cells. 6 months following bariatric surgery this balance is restored. However, post-operative patients are uniquely characterised by an increase in B cell subsets associated with chronic inflammation - CD11c⁺CXCR5^-IgD^-CD27^- double negative 2 (DN2) B cells and CD27⁺CD38⁺⁺ plasmablasts. Correlations between B cells subsets, inflammatory and metabolic parameters were distinct in lean people and individuals with obesity pre- and post-bariatric surgery.

Bariatric surgery patients display a unique B cell profile 6 months post-operatively; this bears minimal resemblance to that of pre-operative patients and only partially overlaps with that of lean controls. Post-operative differences in the B cell compartment compared to lean controls are detected despite global amelioration of inflammation and restoration of metabolic health. Collectively, this indicates that bariatric surgery creates a specific immunometabolic state with potential implications for health outcomes.